On their way to the conference room,
Mia kept shooting suspicious glances between the two men.
Su Yu could feel her gaze prickling against his back like needles.
"Mia-jie, stop staring," Su Yu finally turned around.
"You're creeping me out."
Mia snorted.
"A single banquet and CEO Ji ends up with that mouth? If this were any other occasion, fine. But today's meeting—what will the board members think when they see him like this?"
She opened her mouth, ready to launch into another lecture.
Ji Yanli walked ahead without turning, either ignoring their conversation or pretending not to hear.
Yet when Su Yu slowed his pace, the CEO's footsteps instinctively matched his rhythm.
Su Yu sidled up to Mia. "Do you have compact powder with you?"
Mia immediately understood his intention, arching an eyebrow.
"You're going to cover it up for him?"
"My mess, my cleanup."
Fortunately, Mia always carried makeup essentials.
She pulled a small compact from her blazer pocket and handed it over just as Ji Yanli stopped walking.
The hallway outside the conference room was deserted.
Su Yu took the powder and looked up at Ji Yanli's face.
"Lower your head. Let me fix this."
Though reluctant to admit it, Ji Yanli stood a full head taller, making the task difficult otherwise.
Ji Yanli obediently bent down, bringing his face so close his breath ghosted over Su Yu's cheek.
"Too close,"
Su Yu hissed through gritted teeth.
If Mia saw this, she'd definitely get the wrong idea.
Mia, however, simply observed their interaction with arms crossed, ready to offer makeup advice if needed.
"The meeting's about to start," she reminded.
Su Yu gave up on personal space.
He opened the compact, pressed the puff into the powder, and began dabbing at the swollen redness around Ji Yanli's lips.
The effect was immediate—after a few pats, the marks became far less noticeable unless someone stared directly at his mouth.
However, the powder also dulled Ji Yanli's natural lip color, leaving him looking unnaturally pale.
"Walk in like this, and those old fossils will think you're on death's door,"
Su Yu teased.
Mia checked her watch.
"Hurry up. Use your finger to wipe some off his actual lips."
Ji Yanli remained bent forward, his gaze burning into Su Yu.
Under that intense stare, Su Yu steeled himself and pressed his thumb against those parted lips.
The swollen flesh felt feverish beneath his touch.
Ji Yanli's brows twitched slightly, his lips subconsciously moving against the pressure.
When the pad of Su Yu's thumb accidentally brushed against something wet and warm, his heartbeat roared in his ears, wild and uncontrollable.
Flustered, he rubbed haphazardly until the friction restored some color to Ji Yanli's lips.
Then—a sudden swipe of tongue against his fingertip.
Su Yu yanked his hand back as if scalded.
"You fucking—" He barely swallowed the curse when he remembered Mia's presence.
Ji Yanli straightened with an infuriating smirk, his expression morphing back into its usual aloofness—no trace remaining of the man who'd just licked his assistant's finger.
Mia, oblivious to their exchange, took back the compact.
"Enough. Let's go in."
The conference room's air conditioning hummed as four senior board members—
three men and one woman from Ji Yanli's father's generation—
turned their attention to the newcomers.
The moment Su Yu stepped inside, multiple gazes locked onto him.
Someone let out a barely audible chuckle.
Ji Yanli took his seat at the head of the table, gesturing for Su Yu to sit beside him.
"Should I get coffee?" Su Yu whispered, leaning close to maintain professionalism.
"Stay."
Su Yu had barely settled into his chair when the heavyset board member on the right—Director Yang, whose suit buttons strained against his belly—spoke first:
"Yanli, shouldn't we discuss internal matters privately?"
His beady eyes slid toward Su Yu.
"Without outsiders?"
The CEO's cufflinks glinted coldly under the lights as he tapped the table.
"He's one of us. Speak freely."
Director Lin, the sole female board member, cut to the chase:
"Our overseas partner wants to terminate their contract unless we concede five additional percentage points." She paused meaningfully.
"Incidentally, this company happens to be Director Yang's longtime associate."
Before Su Yu could process the implications, Ji Yanli responded:
"Their product quality is questionable. I'm reconsidering the partnership."
Director Yang bristled.
"They're the largest supplier in the overseas market! We've invested years into this relationship—you can't make rash decisions!"
The unspoken truth hung heavy—these old foxes had inserted their own interests into the subsidiary during its acquisition.
Ji Yanli's voice turned glacial. "Are you questioning my judgment?"
An uncomfortable silence fell.
Everyone knew the company's meteoric rise was largely due to Ji Yanli's leadership.
The quietest board member—Director Wang—suddenly changed the subject with a smile: "Isn't this the young master of the Su family? Your father always worried you'd 'abandon your ambitions for trivial pleasures.'"
His gaze flicked to Su Yu.
"Though I never imagined Yanli would be the one proving him right."
Trivial pleasures? Who's the "pleasure" here?
Su Yu's hands clenched into fists under the table.
Director Yang seized the opportunity:
"Honestly, I almost didn't recognize you earlier. And Yanli's mouth—" He tsked.
"Surely you're not neglecting company affairs for... extracurricular activities?"
The two men volleyed their veiled insults like a well-rehearsed ping-pong match.
The others remained silent—which spoke volumes.
Su Yu took a deep breath.
These old bastards can't out-argue Ji Yanli, so they're targeting me instead.
Typical cowards.
He'd assumed Ji Yanli ruled the company unchallenged.
Who knew these ancient relics still lurked in the shadows?
"Uncles, aunties," Su Yu smiled sweetly.
"Do you all live in my bedroom? Since you're so invested in how we 'play,' why not describe it for me in detail?"
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